Bright idea: light therapy may boost sleep and brain function in early Alzheimer's

NCT ID NCT04073628

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether a long-term light treatment could improve sleep and memory in 73 people with mild cognitive impairment or mild Alzheimer's disease living at home. Participants used a special light device, and researchers measured changes in thinking skills and sleep quality. The study also looked at how the light affected caregivers' sleep and well-being.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

73 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Jun 2021

Finished

Apr 2025

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

50 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria for MCI/Mild AD Participant: * Subject has diagnosis of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild Alzheimer's disease (AD), as defined by a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score between 17 and 24 and those who fall between 0.5-4.0 and 4.5-9.0 in the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes (CDR-SOB) instrument * Subject has sleep disturbance indicated by a score \>5 on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and sleep efficiency below 80% as indicated via actigraphy * Subject resides in his/her home, independent living, or assisted living facilities with a caregiver. Exclusion Criteria for MCI/Mild AD Participant: * Subject diagnosed with another brain disease that fully explains the dementia (extensive brain vascular disease, Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, traumatic brain injury, or multiple sclerosis) * Subject resides in a skilled nursing facility or long-term care * Subject has had recent changes in psychotropics (14 days) * Subject has major organ failure (e.g., kidney failure) * Subject has uncontrolled generalized disorders such as hypertension or diabetes * Subject has obstructing cataracts, macular degeneration, and/or blindness * Subject has undergone cataract surgery and received an intraocular lens coated with ultraviolet- and blue-blocking filters (400-440/440-500 nm) * Subject diagnosed with severe sleep apnea; using the Sleep Apnea scale of the Sleep Disorders Questionnaire (SA-SDQ) the study will use a score of 29 as a cutoff for men and a cutoff of 26 for women * Subject diagnosed with restless leg syndrome (RLS); using the International Restless Legs Scale (IRLS), the study will use a cutoff of ≥11 as a positive screen for RLS * Subject has a history of severe photosensitivity dermatitis, severe progressive retinal disease (e.g., macular degeneration), or a permanently dilated pupil (e.g., after certain types of cataract surgery) For caregivers, we will accept those who: * Live with the patients * Are not diagnosed with dementia (MOCA between 25 and 30 and CDR=0) * Understand English * Are willing to help with the study * No other inclusion/exclusion criteria will be used for enrolling caregivers. There is no age requirement for caregivers.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Alzheimer disease Cognitive Dysfunction

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

    Albany, New York, 12204, United States

  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

    New York, New York, 10029, United States

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